Proverbs 3
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2 for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3 Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man.
And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8 This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.
Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest;
Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12 for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14 for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold.
Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her.
She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17 All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
She is a tree of life to those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.
The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20 By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew.
By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
21 My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22 They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.
When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25 Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare.
For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”— when you already have the means.
Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.
Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.
For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.
Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.
He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.
The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.
